Ch. 64 - Roderick's Last Wish

It was a big day for Roderick. He had invited all of his children over for a cookout to celebrate his 76th birthday. This would be the first time he would have all of his children together, and he was really looking forward to it.

But Roderick was also a little concerned. He knew what the doctors had told him. He knew he didn't have much time left. It was something he hadn't shared with anyone else, not even his wife. Roderick knew that he was living on borrowed time. He hoped that he made the right choice in teaching Christopher how to operate the RADG machines. Maybe he should have taught Stuart how to do it. He loved science and was more like a true Mad Scientist. Christopher was just some pansy cook on TV. Roderick realized that if this didn't work, he'd be stuck on the other side without Kimberly. He decided that after the party, he'd switch them back himself. Sure he'd have to deal with Aiyana when she realized what he did to her, but he was confident that he could handle her. Afterall, if she got too out of line, he could just zap her into a fern.

While Roderick was in the family cemetary visiting Kimberly's grave and plotting the next soul switching event, Christopher was inside making plans of his own.
"Yes, that's the one I want.
Do you have any in blue?
Oh you do have it in stock? Excellent!
Can I get it delivered?
Yes. Yes. I'm that Chef.
Thank you sir.
Actually you'd have to send your recipe ideas to my producer.
No it's ok.
So it'll be delivered tomorrow?
Thank you very much.
Yes I'll wave to you on TV. Bye"

Christopher heard the commotion outside and knew that everyone had arrived...all 19 of his brothers and sisters. They had a great afternoon together eating, chatting, playing and dancing. Finally Roderick pulled them all together for this family picture:

You can see the other group family shots by in the Family Scrapbook.

After the pictures were done, Christopher decided to go back inside and give Jasmine a call. He hadn't talked to her since he saw her at the restaurant that one night, and wanted to tell her everything that had happened and that he was a single man again.

But before he could get to the phone, an awful image popped up in his head. He could see his father standing in the yard where he had just left him, clutching his chest. Christopher shook his head, determined to put the image out of his head, but it stuck with him. He could feel his father's pain and sadness. Something was very wrong.

"POP!", Christopher yelled as he ran back outside hoping to find that his feeling was wrong and his father was perfectly fine.

As he got closer though he could see that everything wasn't fine and his father was definitely not ok.

Christopher ran as fast as he could, but he was too late. Death had already come calling for Roderick. His heart was simply too weak, and gave out. As Roderick faded away, he was surrounded by his children and his wife.

Roderick was able to get his breath long enough to say one last thing to his son.

"Christopher, my boy. Remember what we practiced. You can do it. I...need...her."

Aiyana/Kim looked up and asked him "Practiced what? Need WHO?", but Roderick was already gone.

Roderick was 76 years old and leaves behind a wife, a mistress, 20 children and 6 grandchildren.

<- LEIF MOVES BACK HOME / KIM GETS TOO COMFORTABLE ->